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St Vincent art therapist a healthcare hero

March 21, 2018

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Art therapist Joani Rothenberg from St. Vincent, part of Ascension Indiana,recently was recognized as one of three finalists in the Non-Physician category of the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Health Care Heroes Awards, which took place in Indianapolis.

Joani was honored for her work of incorporating art therapy and its transformative effects into the healing process for individuals and patients at St. Vincent.

“The healing power of art is to be seen as a person, not a patient. It brings back a new self they can identify with,” said Joani, who has been at St. Vincent for five years.

Her own artwork includes illustrations, Jewish ceremonial art, murals and landscape paintings.

St. Vincent has 20 mosaics created by participants in Joani’s program. Some participants have gone on to enroll in art classes and exhibit and sell their work, the Business Journal said. They’re also among the donors, along with St. Vincent Foundation, who support the art therapy program so it can be offered for free.